Since April 2019, we’ve had many updates on general licences for bird control in the UK.
This quick view page will give you all the headline information and latest updates on general and individual licences in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
General licences are issued by each nation and are normally renewed every year.
Because of a legal challenge in England, many nations are reviewing their licences, meaning there are more changes than we might be used to.
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All wild birds in the UK are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Licences allow people to kill or take certain species of wild birds, their nests, or their eggs, under very specific circumstances. Pest professionals use these licences to protect health and safety when birds are causing harm.
By definition you don’t need to apply for a general licence, however you do need to abide by the licence terms. You do need to apply for individual licences.
Pest management professionals will usually use a general licence for the protection of public health or public safety to carry out their work. Any bird control that isn’t covered under a general licence will need to be covered by an individual licence.
BPCA strongly advise that you read and understand whatever licence you’re using to control birds. If you’re challenged on your bird control activity, you should be able to defend your chosen actions with your licence.
We advise that you have a copy of your licence with you when you’re conducting your bird control work.
Species on general licences in the UK for protection of public health or public safety
Updated 5 February 2020.
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Species
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Licences
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England
Issued by Defra and Natural England
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Scotland
Issued by Scottish Natural Heritage
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Wales
Issued by Natural Resources Wales
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Northern Ireland
Issued by The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
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GL35
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GL03
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GL004 and GL016.
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TPG1
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Expires 31 July 2020
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Expires 31 March 2020
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Expires 31 December 2020
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Expires 30 April 2020
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Canada goose
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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No
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Carrion crow
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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Hooded crow
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No
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Yes
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No
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No
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Collared dove
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No
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Yes
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No
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No
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Feral pigeon
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Great Black-backed gull
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No
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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Herring gull
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No. Class licence CL12 permits the control of lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls for air safety purposes. You need to register with Natural England to use this class licence.
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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House sparrow
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No
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No
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No*
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Yes
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Jackdaw
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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Jay
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No
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No
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No
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No
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Lesser black-backed gull
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No. Class licence WML-CL12 permits the control of lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls for air safety purposes. You need to register with Natural England to use this class licence.
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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Magpie
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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Rook
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Yes
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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Monk Parakeet
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Yes
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No
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No
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No
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Starling
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No
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No
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No
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Yes
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Woodpigeon
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No
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Yes
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No
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Yes
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Species or purpose not covered?
Apply for an individual licence A08*
*Note: individual licences for gull control in urban areas also require an integrated management plan.
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Species or purpose not covered?
Apply for an individual licence
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Species or purpose not covered?
Apply for an individual licence
*Note: Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, House Sparrow, Starling, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great tit, Pied Wagtail can be taken and released alive from food premises for the purpose of preserving public health and public safety under GL016.
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Species or purpose not covered?
Apply for an individual licence
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For any species or circumstances that are not covered in these licences, you’ll need to apply for an individual licence.
Bird control in England
General licences in England are issued by Defra. BPCA has been working closely with Defra to ensure that suitable and workable general and individual licences are available for BPCA members.
Defra has issued general licences to:
Most pest professionals will use the licence GL35.
If your circumstances are not covered by these general licences, you must apply for an individual licence.
These licences expire 31 Julyy 2020. Defra has assured BPCA that new licences will be ready for August.
BPCA has been working closely with Defra to ensure that suitable and workable general and individual licences are available for BPCA members.
Reasonable endeavours for non-lethal control
New conditions were included in the three new general licences, which it was hoped would prevent future legal challenges.
It is now required that before and alongside their use “reasonable endeavours must continue to be made to achieve the purpose in question using lawful methods” not covered by the licences.
This condition is about making sure that people are doing everything practicably possible before taking or killing a wild bird.
But now it’s been made clear as a condition of the new licences, so it’s advisable to record all non-lethal action taken before using lethal methods of control.
You don’t have to try non-lethal measures if impractical, ineffective or disproportionate to do so, but you should document why you’ve chosen lethal control on your site in your site report.
Not covered
The new licences are available to use now, and any bird species not covered by these licences may in certain circumstances be controlled by applying for the individual licences.
- WML GL36 Serious damage – does not include jay, collared dove and lesser black-backed gull
- WML GL35 Public health or public safety – does not include jay, wood pigeon, collared dove, lesser black-backed gull and herring gull
- WML GL36 Conservation – does not include feral pigeon and lesser black-backed gull.
Gull control
Natural England has issued a class licence to permit any wild bird control necessary to preserve air safety which covers herring gulls and lesser black-backed gulls.
Beyond this, Natural England will license gull control through individual licences.
To control the lesser black-backed gull or herring gull to prevent disease, damage or risk to public health and safety, you should apply for licence A08.
You can find more details here.
This licence is free. Natural England will decide whether to issue a licence within 30 working days of receiving your application.
You should apply before 15 March 2020, in preparation for bird breeding season.
Natural England will continue to accept licence applications outside this period and will issue licences where there is an imperative need.
Licences for control in urban areas require the submission of an integrated management plan with the application.
Useful link and further reading:
Further advice for BPCA members is available by emailing technical@bpca.org.uk
Bird control in Scotland
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) look after bird control licences in Scotland.
They have said that the expected changes to three general licences in Scotland will happen on 1 April 2020.
General licences
You don’t need to apply to use a general licence. But you must be sure that the licence is appropriate and that you meet the licence conditions in full.
General licences cover certain types of activity relating to birds, for example:
- Preserving public health
- Protecting air safety
- Preventing the spread of disease.
Pest professionals will normally be using GL 03/2020: To kill or take certain birds for the preservation of public health, public safety and preventing the spread of disease.
Individual licences
For any species or purposes not covered in the general licences, you can apply for an individual licence.
Further advice for BPCA members is available by emailing technical@bpca.org.uk
Bird control in Wales
Natural Resources Wales look after bird control licences in Wales.
They reviewed their bird control licences last year but expect to conduct further reviews in 2020.
General licences
You don’t need to apply to use a general licence. But you must be sure that the licence is appropriate and that you meet the licence conditions in full.
There are four general licences in Wales:
- GL001 – Licence to kill or take certain wild birds to prevent serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit or to prevent the spread of disease to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit
- GL002 – Licence to kill or take certain wild birds for the purpose of preserving public health and preventing the spread of disease to humans
- GL004 – Licence to kill or take certain wild birds for the purpose of conserving wild birds
- GL016 - Licence to take and release alive certain wild birds from food premises for the purpose of preserving public health and public safety. Species covered: Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, House sparrow, Starling, Song Thrush, Blue tit, Great tit, Pied wagtail.
Pest professionals will normally use a combination of GL004 and GL016 to protect public health.
You may not kill or take rooks or collared doves under the new Welsh general licences.
If you need to kill or take rooks or collared doves you will need to apply for an individual licence.
Individual licences
For any species or purposes not covered in the general licences, you can apply for an individual licence.
Further advice for BPCA members is available by emailing technical@bpca.org.uk
Bird control in Northern Ireland
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs issues licences for bird control in Northern Ireland.
General licences
You don’t need to apply to use a general licence. But you must be sure that the licence is appropriate and that you meet the licence conditions in full.
There are three general licences in Northern Ireland:
Pest professionals will usually use TPG1 which allows you to kill or take certain birds for the purpose of preserving public health or public safety.
Individual licences
For any species or purposes not covered in the general licences, you can apply for an individual licence.
Further advice for BPCA members is available by emailing technical@bpca.org.uk
BPCA on bird licences
BPCA is not generally opposed to tight general licences, as long as professional pest management companies, such as BPCA members, still have the tools they require to protect public health.
You can read our open letter to the secretary of state regarding bird control here.